UN demands halt to 'tit-for-tat' as Iran strikes Gulf bases

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Thursday demanded an immediate halt to the escalating tit-for-tat violence gripping the Gulf region, warning that only a return to diplomacy can prevent further destabilization. "Look, this tit-for-tat needs to stop," Dujarric told reporters in New York, as Iran launched missile strikes against US military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan in retaliation for a second consecutive day of American attacks against Iranian targets.

The strikes marked a significant expansion of the conflict that has intensified since Tehran's forces targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Washington and its allies have responded with sustained military action against Iranian positions, prompting Thursday's reprisal attacks on US bases across four Gulf states.

Push for negotiations

Dujarric emphasized that all parties must recognize the negotiating table as the only means to end the conflict. "A return to diplomacy is urgently needed for the sake of stability in the region, for the sake of global stability," he said, adding that "all of the parties involved need to understand that the best way to end this conflict is a return to the negotiating table." The spokesperson noted that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stands ready to assist in any capacity to facilitate talks.

Guterres' Personal Envoy on the crisis, Jean Arnault, continues to maintain contact with relevant parties, while the International Maritime Organization plays a critical role addressing maritime issues in the Strait. The UN comments came one day after Guterres issued a separate statement encouraging all sides to exercise maximum restraint.